Brazilian Supreme Court Justices Reject Bolsonaro's Appeal Against Coup Attempt Conviction

Supreme Court Upholds Conviction

In a significant legal development in Brazil, Supreme Federal Court (STF) justices Alexandre de Moraes and Flávio Dino have voted to reject an appeal filed by former President Jair Bolsonaro. The decision upholds his conviction and 27-year and three-month prison sentence for attempting a coup d'état. Bolsonaro's defense had sought to challenge the ruling, citing alleged procedural flaws and a lack of time to analyze evidence.

Background to the Conviction

The conviction stems from Bolsonaro's actions following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors alleged that Bolsonaro orchestrated a plot to remain in power, which included casting doubt on Brazil's electronic voting system, drafting a decree to annul election results, and encouraging the widespread riots on January 8, 2023. On that day, thousands of his supporters stormed and vandalized federal government buildings in Brasília, calling for military intervention.

Bolsonaro was found guilty by the Supreme Federal Court on September 11, 2025, of multiple crimes, including:

• Attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law
• Participation in an armed criminal organization
• Attempted coup d'état

This marked the first time a former Brazilian president was convicted for attempting to overturn an election.

The Appeal and Its Rejection

Bolsonaro's legal team filed the appeal, known as a motion for clarification, on October 28, 2025, seeking to address what they described as 'ambiguities, omissions, contradictions, and obscurities' in the STF's decision. They also raised concerns about alleged 'abuses' by case rapporteur Alexandre de Moraes, claiming that requests for postponement were denied, hindering their ability to adequately analyze evidence. However, Justices de Moraes and Dino, who have been central figures in the legal proceedings against Bolsonaro, voted to reject these arguments.

Legal and Political Implications

Despite the rejection of this appeal, Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest, still has the option to appeal the conviction and sentence before the full 11-justice Supreme Court. Legal experts suggest that while a complete reversal of the conviction is unlikely, modifications to the sentence length remain a possibility. This ongoing legal battle continues to shape Brazil's political landscape, with the former president facing significant challenges to his political future and freedom.